The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue and Green Economy has made it a priority for 2023-2024 to embark on a National Rehabilitation Exercise to introduce the Brazilian dwarf coconut seedlings for propagation and distribution across Dominica. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Lakeyia Joseph made the disclosure while delivering remarks at the launching ceremony of the second edition of Ti Vilaj Kweyol held recently.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, the country’s once flourishing coconut industry suffered immensely with over 95 percent of coconut trees destroyed.
“Our farmers, the backbone of our economy, are struggling to find quality planting material, a dire situation exacerbated by the overwhelming demand for coconut-based products, such as oil and coconut milk,” Joseph stated. “However, in the face of adversity, we have persevered.”
She continued, “Local private nurseries have stepped up offering limited quantities of coconut seedlings, providing a glimmer of hope to our farmers. In response to this challenge the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue and Green Economy has made it a priority for 2023-2024. We are embarking on a National Rehabilitation Exercise in collaboration with our partners, introducing Brazilian dwarf coconut seedlings for propagation and distribution across the island.”
Joseph indicated that the government’s goal is not just the revitalization of the coconut sector, but a holistic approach that encompasses the entire value chain from cultivation to processing and utilization. Meanwhile, she explained that these trees standing tall by over 20 feet were not just trees.
“They were a testament of years of dedicated effort, a legacy of the Ministry of Agriculture’s coconut expansion project way back to 1980, post the destructive Hurricane David of 1979,” Joseph explained.
You are a university graduate in agriculture.You spent all your young days working in and for a foreign.After Maria it was the best time to assist and advise the government,you did nothing,instead you rejoiced at Dominica’s destruction.Today you are talking about $64,000 like a big Jacka.Skerrit deserve more than $64,000,because while he was building Dominica with his blood,sweat and tears,you forgot there was a Dominica to build.The patriotic Dominicans who returned and stayed to build,do NOT want your advice,when you are going to understand it is hard to know.
take my advice farmers and farmer-folk. secure and plant as many of the indigenous coconut tree plants as you xan. they will be invaluable in the future. Monsanto is coming. anything from out there is poison. they already gave us gmo banana plants after the storm. that was the whole plan. poison the soil poison the water poison the food.
So ministers like Austrie and President can pass take all plants put on tere Volare. when folks pass at agri station in possi look for tree crops they were told the Lang Sal took all. These seems to be events for supporters.
happy to hear this so will the ministers be getting all 10k to plant, just like all those green houses that went to the bull dog in the north of Dominica.
Hurricane Maria was in 2017 so there has been 5 years since. It’s not as if the Brazilian dwarf was only now developed so where is the proof of this cabal’s interest in agriculture. They could find $64,000 plus per month to satisfy the bourgeoisie taste of the once school teacher who couldn’t afford to buy a tie much less a suit. Boasting to the populace and lying about the agriculture sector when there aren’t much of any of the produce anymore as before, that prices of local items are rocket high in the market is a pipe dream. Good that finally some more coconuts will be planted and it will take some time before we will see the availability of coconuts as before. Why did it take soo long to resuscitate the coconut industry?. The next level, focusing on hotel construction is bringing fair results like a “C” grade.
The Brazil government wants to ship out 10,000 Brazilians to Dominica, so they have adopted the Chinese methods of “friendship.” Yes, we want your coconut because our trees are too tall. We also want more Brazilians here because Dominica is nice and safe and clean. We are a Mosquito 🦟 Free Island. So come with your nuts.
SHAME. After maria was the best time to plant and plant and plant. So many coconuts had fallen, on state land on private land all coconuts were on the ground. instead we chose to only drink the water and discard the rest. The min of agriculture did NOTHING!!!!! to ensure we have cash crops to reap today. NOTHING!!. Now we have to be importing coconut trees? Boy all you is a set of absolute jokers echoing and bellowing fancy catch phrases. tired of all you trying to make it sound like we doing great things when we just reacting to whatever we allowing to happen to us.
Great initiative Miss Joseph! Bring back our industries. Urgent action is needed. We depend on agriculture. We are overwhelmed with imported unhealthy foods and products! It is time to eat what we grow and grow what we eat. I am applying for two dozen plants of this new coconut plants. Way to go Miss Joseph.Educate the public on the health benefits of coconut oil and other coconut products.
Imported foods are unhealthy yes, but have you stopped to think about the amount of chemicals that are used in agricultural in Dominica? Did you not read about the unacceptably high cancer rate in Dominica?
Foods produced in Dominica are equally unhealthy.
After the passage of Hurricane Maria, the government boasted about an ongoing project to replant a million trees ( fruit trees included). That was just another of this untruthful regime’s FAT LIE.
This grossly underperforming, dishonest administration has made many fascinating promises. Unfortunately, all are stuck in the pipeline never to see the light of day.
ou paka tan…..these guys say all kinds of things, and then walk away. No follow up, no implementation – just talk.